Don Balfour Receives Honor from GGC
Georgia Gwinnett College honors Don Balfour with naming of Health & Sciences building
Published in the Gwinnett Daily Post.
Photos by Gwinnett Daily Post, ORS team.
Georgia Gwinnett College has officially renamed its Allied Health and Sciences building in honor of longtime public servant and business leader Don Balfour, recognizing his lasting impact on both the institution and the state.
The newly designated Donald K. Balfour II Health & Sciences Building was celebrated during an April 27 ceremony attended by Sonny Perdue, chancellor of the University System of Georgia, along with campus leaders, elected officials and community members.
Speaking at the event, Balfour reflected on the deeper meaning behind the honor, noting that while buildings are significant, the true focus should remain on the students they serve. His remarks underscored a longstanding commitment to expanding access to higher education — an effort that helped bring Georgia Gwinnett College to fruition in 2005, when Gwinnett County established its first four-year institution.
Balfour’s career spans more than four decades across business and public service. Born in New Jersey in 1957, he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bob Jones University in 1980 and completed graduate studies at Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1981.
He spent 40 years as an executive with Waffle House, building expertise in operations, leadership and organizational growth. In public service, Balfour served 22 years in the Georgia State Senate, including as chairman of the Rules Committee.
During his legislative tenure, he sponsored the legislation that established Georgia Gwinnett College and supported a range of initiatives benefiting the institution. He also played a key role in major statewide efforts, including legislation that enabled development of the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 3 and 4.
On the national level, Balfour served as president of the National Conference of State Legislatures from 2009 to 2010, promoting collaboration among state governments. After leaving elected office, he continued his executive career as senior vice president of Ohio River South and remains active in civic initiatives through The Carter Center, where he serves as the lead Republican in the Georgia Democracy Network.
Today, the Donald K. Balfour II Health & Sciences Building stands as a hub for the college’s expanding programs in health, science and technology, supporting student learning, research and community engagement.
The dedication marks only the second named building on campus. The first, the Dr. Daniel J. Kaufman Library & Learning Center, was dedicated in 2016 in honor of founding president Daniel J. Kaufman.